Street
órale
What does órale mean?
The Swiss-army knife of Chicano interjections. Means right on, alright, hey, c'mon, let's go, hell yeah — whatever the moment needs. Tone does the work.
"Órale, the carne asada's ready, vámonos."
Origin
Mexican Spanish 'órale' (from 'ahora' + emphatic -le), absorbed deep into Chicano English and Caló. Pachuco / SoCal hip-hop staple.
Frequently asked questions
What does órale mean?
It's an all-purpose Mexican interjection that can mean 'wow', 'okay', 'right on', or 'come on', depending on the tone.
How do you use órale?
Use it to show surprise ('¡Órale!'), to agree ('órale, va'), or to urge someone on. The meaning shifts with your inflection.
Is órale only used in Mexico?
It's most characteristic of Mexican Spanish, but it's also widely recognized in Chicano and Spanglish speech in the US.
Where does órale come from?
It comes from 'ahora' (now) plus the emphatic Mexican '-le' ending seen in words like 'ándale' and 'híjole'.
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